November 2008

PRESS RELEASE

The need for speed

Speed and expertise are integral to the success of many businesses. This is certainly true of the operations at Aberdeen O-Rings and Seals Ltd, a member of the Precision Polymer Engineering (PPE) group of companies, where fast response times and knowledge of oil and gas exploration and extraction are critical to the customer. Dealing with a wide range of scenarios including breakdowns, rush jobs and discontinued seals, the team at Aberdeen O-Rings and Seals truly understands the need for speed and first-class service.

Rachel Armell, recently appointed Business Manager, Aberdeen O-Rings and Seals Ltd, explains the expertise delivered in Aberdeen and how customers have come to expect high levels of service.

What are the standard delivery times?

Our manufacturing facility contains some of the most advanced equipment in Europe. This allows us to deliver products – utilising our extensive knowledge of the oil and gas industry and our range of elite materials – between 24 and 48 hours after the order has been made. We understand the complexities involved in oil and gas exploration and extraction; a combination of extreme temperatures, aggressive chemicals and gases subject seals to harsh conditions. We also recognise the huge costs that are involved from the loss of production during breakdown situations, therefore speed and expertise is essential.

Our in-house CNC machines are pre-programmed with a wide array of seal geometries, accelerating our response to individual customer requirements for specific seal profiles, diameters or materials. We consider ourselves to be one of the most responsive seal manufacturers in the UK. If we don’t have the seals in stock, we can rapidly manufacture them to order within the shortest lead-times available in the sealing industry.

Are there any recent successes you would like highlight?

A leading supplier of oilfield products and services recently came to us with an urgent requirement for specialist ‘V’ packing seals at very short notice. Having searched globally for these items, our customer was delighted to discover that Aberdeen O-Rings & Seals could, and would produce them in a matter of hours.

Oil and gas exploration is changing constantly – how does Aberdeen O-Rings and Seals Ltd keep up with this?

We don’t just keep up with the industry, we stay ahead by constantly looking beyond current sealing requirements to the future needs of the industry for high performance elastomers. Aberdeen O-Rings and Seals Ltd and Precision Polymer Engineering are committed to remaining at the forefront of industry trends; and so developed a new generation of technically advanced elastomer materials. We recognise that the methods used to exploit reserves are becoming more complex, with operations moving to remote locations and deeper well depths. The E ND URA â range of materials has been specifically developed to offer performance advantages in downhole, surface and subsea oilfield equipment whilst providing excellent explosive decompression (ED) resistance – tested to NORSOK M-710 and TOTAL GS PVV 142 03/01. The range also includes a unique ED resistant fluoroelastomer (FKM) material grade that offers excellent chemical resistance and low temperature performance for use in Arctic conditions – down to -45˚C and up to +250˚C. In addition, our engineers and material technologists are able to provide support in a range of areas, including component design, material selection and compatibility, testing and analysis, ensuring that customers receive the full benefit of over 30 years of oil and gas industry expertise.

How does PPE support activity at Aberdeen O-Rings and Seals Ltd?

PPE has a strong record of investment in innovative materials, technology and processing and has many years' experience in delivering high performance components to a wide range of industries around the world, from its modern, purpose built manufacturing plant. The company’s involvement across a wide range of industries encourages cross-fertilisation of design ideas. Solutions developed for one industry can often be applied to others, leading to reduced costs and shorter development times.

Aberdeen O-Rings and Seals Ltd has direct access to a wide range of technical and support services from PPE. Extensive component design and modelling services, including 3D FEA simulation, is supported by PPE’s purpose-built Material Characterisation Centre - a state-of-the-art laboratory and development cell that offers a comprehensive range of services for the development, characterisation, testing and analysis of polymeric materials.

Test, test and test again

PPE and Aberdeen O-Rings & Seals ensure that all products are extensively tested so that they meet the highest performance standards. Of particular note for Aberdeen O-Rings & Seals customers is PPE’s advanced ED test equipment which can pressurise seals of various geometries up to 10,000 psi and can decompress over any desired cycle or time, whilst at a temperature of up to 250°C. Using this equipment, compounds can be developed and tested to overcome this condition, with pressure, temperature and pressure release cycles simulating actual field operation, confirming the performance of seal types and grades before installation.

What other benefits can Aberdeen O-Rings and Seals deliver?

Each quarter, we invite our industry experts to present a range of free specialist training courses that cover important topics such as elastomer technology and seal design for our customers. This not only helps increase knowledge of the industry and our products, but the training courses also highlight the dedication that we have to providing a first class service to all our customers worldwide from our Aberdeen headquarters.

Aberdeen O-Rings and Seals Ltd also provides extensive logistical support to its customers, holding, managing and ordering stock. Cost-effective and efficient, Aberdeen O-Rings & Seals’ logistical services ensure the rapid delivery of critical seals to our customers’ facilities, providing peace of mind and improved operational efficiency.

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Editor’s notes:
Aberdeen O-rings and Seals Ltd, a member of the Precision Polymer Engineering (PPE) group of companies, is focused on providing the oil and gas industry with high performance sealing solutions. Working at the forefront of elastomer technology, the company has specifically developed the ENDURA® range of sealing materials for use in downhole, surface and subsea oilfield equipment. The ENDURA® range offers excellent explosive decompression (ED) and chemical resistance as well as superb low temperature performance in Arctic conditions. For more information about the company and products, please visit www.aberdeenseals.co.uk

For further information, please contact: Aberdeen O-rings and Seals Ltd, Block 1, Unit 8, Souterhead Road Industrial Estate, Altens, Aberdeen AB12 3LF Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)1224 877844 Fax: +44 (0)1224 877866
E-mail: donna.maskell@prepol.com

For further press information, please contact: Louise Foster, Barrett Dixon Bell, Craig Court, 25 Hale Road, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 2EY, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)161 925 4700 Fax: +44 (0)161 925 4701
Email: louise@bdb.co.uk